Rearview mirror constructed for efficient assembly
First Claim
1. A mirror assembly comprising:
- an electrochromic mirror including a first connector operably connected to the electrochromic mirror;
an electrically-operated second component associated with the electrochromic mirror and that includes a second connector operably connected to the electrically-operated second component; and
primary wire bundle extending from and configured to communicate power to the electrochromic mirror and to the electrically-operated second component, the primary wire bundle including a main connector, the first connector engaging and electrically connected to the main connector, the second connector engaging and electrically connected to one of the main connector and the first connector, whereby the primary wire bundle is configured to communicate power to the electrochromic mirror and to the second component in a manner minimizing the number of electrical connections and connectors necessary during assembly to a mirror housing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mirror assembly includes a housing, an angularly adjustable power pack, wires for supplying power and mirror angle control, an electrochromic mirror subassembly including a heater, and a turn signal device. The components include individual connectors that plug into a multi-prong connector on the bundle of wires, or that piggyback into each other. Optionally, the heater incorporates an internal wire with end connectors for communicating power to opposite sides of the heater, and also includes layers of light-transmitting/diffusing material for diffusing light passing from the turn signal device through the diffusing material. A printed circuit board fits into a pocket in the panel-shaped carrier, and an integral retainer releasably secures the printed circuit board. The power pack is attached to the carrier via a ring of resilient fingers, and a continuous hoop flange prevents distortion of the carrier and in turn of the glass elements in the mirror subassembly.
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Citations
61 Claims
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1. A mirror assembly comprising:
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an electrochromic mirror including a first connector operably connected to the electrochromic mirror;
an electrically-operated second component associated with the electrochromic mirror and that includes a second connector operably connected to the electrically-operated second component; and
primary wire bundle extending from and configured to communicate power to the electrochromic mirror and to the electrically-operated second component, the primary wire bundle including a main connector, the first connector engaging and electrically connected to the main connector, the second connector engaging and electrically connected to one of the main connector and the first connector, whereby the primary wire bundle is configured to communicate power to the electrochromic mirror and to the second component in a manner minimizing the number of electrical connections and connectors necessary during assembly to a mirror housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42)
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12. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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a housing;
a mirror subassembly positioned in the housing and including a panel-shaped carrier;
first and second electrically-operated components associated with the mirror subassembly and including first and second connectors, respectively; and
a primary wire bundle extending from and configured to communicate power to the first and second components, the primary wire bundle including a main connector, the first and second connectors engaging and electrically directly connected to the main connector, whereby the primary wire bundle and the first and second connectors are configured to communicate power to the first and second components in a manner minimizing the number of electrical connections necessary during assembly to a vehicle.
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13. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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a mirror subassembly; and
a heater positioned relative to the mirror subassembly for heating the mirror subassembly, the heater including a first connector on one side of the heater that is adapted for connection to a power source and a second connector on another side of the heater with an electrical conductor extending through and across the heater and connecting the first and second connectors, whereby electrical energy can be communicated by the electrical conductor to different sides of the heater for operating an electrically-operated component associated with the mirror subassembly.
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19. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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a mirror subassembly;
a heater positioned relative to the mirror subassembly for heating the mirror subassembly, the heater being multi-layered and including a polymeric layer of light-transmitting material and including another layer of opaque material with at least one aperture therein for letting light pass through to the light-transmitting material; and
a light source directing light at the portion, whereby the portion diffuses the light so that the light passing therethrough is uniformly distributed.
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24. A mirror comprising:
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an electrochromic mirror subassembly including a panel-shaped carrier with flanges defining a pocket;
a printed circuit board positioned in the pocket; and
a releasable retainer releasably securing the printed circuit board in the pocket.
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39. An exterior rearview mirror comprising:
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a mirror subassembly including a panel-shaped carrier;
a printed circuit board attached to the panel-shaped carrier, the printed circuit board including light-generating devices positioned in a visible location on the mirror subassembly to generate a visible turn signal and including at least a portion of a circuit for controlling the light-generating devices; and
a retainer securing the printed circuit board to the mirror subassembly characteristically without using a separate housing for the printed circuit board.
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43. A mirror assembly comprising:
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a housing;
a power pack attached to the housing and including an angularly adjustable mount;
an electrochromic mirror subassembly including front and rear glass elements and an electrochromic layer adapted to provide controlled darkening of reflected images, and further including a panel-shaped carrier with a front surface shaped to uniformly support the rear glass element, the panel-shaped carrier including a plurality of resilient retainers arranged in a circle and extending rearwardly from the panel-shaped carrier and engaging the adjustable mount and further including a continuous hoop-shaped wall extending around and spaced radially from the plurality of resilient retainers, the hoop-shaped wall extending from the rear surface and supporting an area around and proximate a base of the plurality of resilient retainers so that significant deflection of the panel-shaped carrier in the area of the resilient retainers is prevented even when the resilient retainers are stressed or have been stressed. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A mirror assembly comprising:
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a housing;
a power angle adjustment device attached to the housing and including an angularly adjustable mount;
an electrochromic mirror subassembly including front and rear glass elements and an electrochromic layer adapted to provide controlled darkening of reflected images, and further including a panel-shaped carrier with a front surface shaped to uniformly support the rear glass element, the panel-shaped carrier including a plurality of resilient retainers arranged in a circle and extending rearwardly from the panel-shaped carrier and engaging the adjustable mount, the retainers and adjustable mount being configured to positively engage for secure retention but also configured to provide an insertion attachment force of less than 50 pounds force (222 N) during assembly of the panel-shaped carrier to the power pack. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. An exterior mirror assembly comprising:
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a housing including an arm adapting the housing for attachment to a vehicle in a position outside of the vehicle;
a power pack attached to the housing and including an angularly adjustable mount; and
a mirror subassembly including an electrochromic mirror and a carrier for the electrochromic mirror, the carrier including a panel-like surface supporting the electrochromic mirror and including retainers engaging the adjustable mount, the carrier including a plurality of apertures inboard of a perimeter of the carrier but outboard of a perimeter of the electrochromic mirror and further the mirror subassembly including a bezel with a plurality of resilient hooks that extend past the perimeter of the electrochromic mirror and into the plurality of apertures. - View Dependent Claims (61)
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Specification